Warm hellos to you dear brethren, co-workers, and spiritual family on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and scattered children of God, from our offices here in Spanish Fort.

They say “time flies quickly”…well we’ll be celebrating a double Sabbath if you will, (with the weekly Sabbath and next Day of Pentecost) just two weeks from this Sabbath.

I’ve considered, as long as I can remember, it a wonderful blessing to participate in the holy convocation that God commands us to be part of on His weekly Sabbath. We assemble, whether in person or remotely, to come before the Lord of the Sabbath and seek His words and instruction. We also come together to fellowship with one another in that Spirit and renew the bonds of brotherly love and concern. We as called out Disciples of Christ share the wonderful treasures of truth that we’ve been given and we reinforce the understanding of them each Sabbath.

As I mentioned last Friday evening we see how the apostle Peter writes of God’s truth and the love you and I need to have. “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:22-23).

I realize that the phrase “born again” derived from the Greek anagennao might be even better translated as “engendered again.” There are various analogies used in the Scriptures, but we realize our ultimate “born again” experience will take place at the resurrection when we are changed from mortal to immortal.

Peter also compares you and me to newborn babies. (I can relate to what a newborn baby is like, having been able to hold my granddaughter when she was only a few days old). “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:1-2)

Peter directs the other disciples to get rid of attitudes and actions that are contrary to loving one another. Peter addresses the elders of the church in chapter 5 including himself as a fellow elder. It’s important to notice that he does not try to somehow elevate himself by referring to his apostolic calling or authority. “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3)

As we discussed last time, Peter had affirmed his love for Jesus and we see in Peter’s letter that he took to heart the admonition by Jesus to take care of the sheep entrusted to him.

Throughout his letter, Peter encouraged the disciples (and by extension you and me) to care for one another. “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9) “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

In one of our nightly online fellowships I asked the question and we discussed, “Do we have this love naturally?” There is a level of love that humans try to demonstrate by themselves. There is a higher level of love that is made possible only by the working of the Holy Spirit in them, and then guided by the instructions in the Word of God.

The first characteristic on the list of the “Fruits of the Spirit” in Galatians 5 is love. Paul also focuses on the subject of love in 1 Corinthians 13. These are powerful and descriptive instructions, setting the bar very high to achieve the qualities of love that Paul describes. It is quite humbling to examine these qualities and observe how I personally need to grow in implementing them. Of ourselves, frankly, we can’t fully achieve them. We need the working of God’s Holy Spirit in our minds and motives and hearts. That’s what is missing from so many today. It’s why we have so many problems in this world around us.

I pray that you and I can grow in these spiritual qualities and that we all can open ourselves to the working of God’s Spirit to examine the instructions in this chapter and then both own and exhibit them.

On this soon upcoming Day of Pentecost, we’ll again reflect upon what we are taught, as we congregate and fellowship, and on the importance of yielding to that Spirit of Love and growing in grace and knowledge.

So, Love, the Sabbath, and the Day of Pentecost are incredible blessings that are encouraging for us to keep growing and living as time indeed marches on!

Arms up friends! Our prayers and thoughts are with you daily. Please do pray for us as well.